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DIY Cleaning and stuff

soma89

soma89

Well-Known Member
Hello everyone, I need a couple of tips from you guys involving the cleaning of vinyl records.

a) A lot of my records look clean but sound very crackly, is there any hope for these or do they just have damaged grooves?

b) Where do i get a good wetting agent for my 25% alcohol (90%+) and 75% ionized water mixture?

c) I want to try to use my home vacuum for my records but can't seem to find a good nozzle for it. Any recommendations? I was thinking of using one like this http://www.tsaworld.com/item_images/VACAVPA011.jpg and just sticking on some cloth or something to the edges.

Thanks a lot, any help is appreciated!
 
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you should also check out this thread Record Cleaning - Soap and Water - test results
 
Do a search for "crevice tool" in Turntables. That's a device I use, with my wet/dry vacuum. I cut a slot on the side of the crevice tool and stuck two strips of microfiber cloth on either side of the slot. I use that after washing.
But I'd like to try out the Spin-Clean machine mentioned above.
 
Thanks for the info you guys! Just looked around the house and found some Sunlight Dish Soap. Anyone know if that's good for cleaning vinyl or even using as a wetting agent? thanks again
 
I have lots of old records that look clean but sound crackly. Sometimes I wonder if these methods are meant for really dirty 40yrs-in-the-attic records, or if they can be used for old records that are not dirty but do have crackling to them when played. Most of my records are old, look fine, but have crackling which i always thought was due to dirt under the grooves that i just can't get to. I've been handwashing my records with a solution of 25% alcohol, 75% water and some drops of sunlight dish soap and have to say I've seen very little (if any) improvement in sound. Can it be that i'me just using regular towels instead of "microfiber"? I'm totally lost on this
 
I was talking with a guy who runs an analog shop here in Rochester - Audio Renaissance. He was singing praises for the Spin Clean. At the shop he has a Nitty Gritty, but prefers the Spin Clean. The problem is it's going to be really hard to get one for a while. They're back ordered for the next month or more.

I built my own cleaner. I just used an old TT, mounted a copper pipe through where the tonearm had been, added a 90 elbow and used another copper pipe from that. Basically, the copper pipe became the tonearm. I cut a slit in the pipe over the album, cleaned it up well, and then ordered some replacement Nitty Gritty felts and placed them on the pipe. Adding an adapter and shop vac on the other end took care of the rest. Believe me, throw on some cleaning solution, kick on the vac and then spin by hand and you'll have a nicely clean album when all is done. Takes a few minutes, but even the grungiest of garage sale vinyl comes out gleaming.

I'm still planning on buying a Spin Clean though. :-)
 
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